India Habitat Center

Hey there everyone,

I finally psyched up and became a member of IndiaMike rather than just being a "lurker". I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the posts from all of the members.

I'm heading to India in November for my second trip (first was 2 years ago). Some friends of the family have made reservations for me at the India Habitat Center in Delhi for the first couple of nights. Has anyone ever stayed there? How is it?

Hi Cruisin & welcome to IM,
Hers the website for The Indian Habitat Centre
Well worth a Look,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Very cool,

Thanks for the link!

Hiya,
I just came back from India Habitat Center (IHC). Its a cool place to stay but if you are expecting touristy thingy and lot of touts, crowd..I'm sorry you are far from that.
Its emerging as cultural capital of Delhi (just came back watching a documentry and meeting with leading hindustani classical vocalist).
Nice places to eat, from food court called ' Etopia' to Delhi-o-Delhi(popularly called DOD), a nice place to have North Indian, Avadh Cuisine.
But evenings can be bit coring as it gets lonely Not many tourists around, I suggest you can shift to Paharganj(similar to Kaho San road in Bangkok, if u know) after few initial days, among normal tourists crowd.

Follow India mike and you'll be fine.
otherwise, just go to American Diner at IHC and ask for Vinay Verma..they'll guide you to me.

All the best

Thanks for the reply, Vinayverma.

I'm not too worried about being far from touristy things since I did that stuff my last trip. I think I'm supposed to stay there for my first night upon arrival since I get in so late and then stay with relatives for a few more nights in Delhi before taking the train down to Lucknow.

The website seems pretty cool. I guess I'm looking at it more of a place to crash, not necessarily to entertain me. At least they have restaurant/bar so that should suffice!

Etopia is a food court, which has, a Indian, chinese/thai, continental and fast food counters.
DOD(6th Floor) is mainly for north Indian stuff, very popular with Indian beurocrats,
Oriental Octopus (5th Floor), as the name suggest, Chineses/ ad Thai
American Diner(Ground Floor), recently voted as best breakfast in town, and nice informal place to hangout and meet people. open till midnight.
*American Diner is the place where we had first IM travellers meetup in Delhi*

...and many un-official meet-ups thereafter , Thanks Vinayverma for Introducing to me a gr8 place right next to my office....though a bit out-of-pocket for me to go every week.

Agree about it being a great place, Ashish !! But a highly expensive proposition for me too, even to visit once a month !!!

IHC is a really good place 2 stay. The lodi gardens are close by for a nice walk. vinayverma has given spot on detail...meaning that theres good food to be sampled here. To me IHC is v. different from paharganj but has its own ambience and is perfect and worth a visit.

Cool,

Thanks for all of the info, IM'ers! I guess after 20 hours in the air, it seems like a nice relaxing place to unwind.

I am curious how you found the IHC. I am traveliing with my wife and 4 year old son to India in Dec. A friend wrote...

i have made a reservation for you at the india habitat
center - its central , very clean and reasonably
priced - its rupees 3,100 /- night for a superior room
( same as standard room but with carpet ) - they will
also charge rs. 400/- per night as a temporary
membership and there is a 12 1/2 % tax

...seems a little odd that the web site doesn't appear to even talk about the hotel aspect of the place. So I was wondering how 'Cruisin' found it. We are arriving in Delhi at 2:30am and I don't know quite how we will spend our 3 weeks. We were there 5 years ago and made great friends in Jaipur.

Hey Peter,

A relative who lives in Delhi booked it for me. I guess his business partner is a "member" of the place. I told this relative that I was looking for a place to stay for the first night since I get in around midnight and did not want to bother/impose on he or or his family by me staying with them.

He said not to worry and booked me at that place for the first night. I had never heard of it either, thus the reason for starting the thread.